Even as the morale among the men is seemingly high, there will be
typical challenges of operating in tribal and remote locations.

The May 25 Maoist ambush on the Congress leadership in Bastar's Darbha area may have been the most high-profile attack ever carried out by the ultras, but in the minds of the foot soldiers of democracy - the civilian government employees deployed for election duty - the incident is "history" now.

Gopal Pandey, a teacher, is the sector in-charge of that very area, and has seven polling parties under him to conduct free and fair polling on Monday. For Pandey and his team, the day has finally arrived when their preparation and training of months will be tested.

Pranav Banerjee, a school principal, who is a poll presiding officer in the sensitive area, says fear is on their mind but not for the reason you think". "Our fear emanates out of nervousness about conducting the polls in the most proper and effective way," he says.

Asked about the sense of security in the light of the dastardly Maoist attack of May, he says: " What happened was bad. And it did make us feel scared initially.

But we can't allow it to continue.

It is history. The security and other arrangements are very well done." Pandey, while admitting to certain concerns, seeks to allay fears of his colleagues.

"The very fact that I am posted there did scare some minds. But the security is pretty good... I have told my teams to assure their families that there is nothing to worry." In this team of polling officials, there are some who have worked in such areas in the past. Tanmay Shrivastava, a lecturer, recalls his last election duty in a "sensitive" location within Bastar.

"Generally for elections there is always enough force. This time there is more than enough. In fact, we feel like VIPs in these areas as more sensitive the location is more is the security," he says.

For Jalandhar Baghel, unlike others in the group, these are the first such elections he will help conducting. "We have been put through an extensive training where we were informed about how we are being secured. That has helped us a lot. People in my family are very excited," he says.

Even as the morale among these men is seemingly high, there will be typical challenges of operating in tribal and remote locations.

"The tribals are of course very excited. They also come in large numbers, but they need some guidance.

In Raipur, at the office of the chief electoral officer, there is a great degree of anxiety, however. "Till the last of our polling parties return on the morning of November 14, we can't rest easy. Situation is very fluid," said an officer.